CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 143

"Why is it always me who’s unlucky?"

Kiba’s face crashed from excitement to despair in an instant—like a kid hearing the lunch bell only to find out it’s detention time instead.

"That’s rough, Kiba."

Shikamaru gave his shoulder a lazy pat, sympathy just barely outweighing boredom.

"None of you got matched up?" Kiba asked suddenly, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Nope."

Ino smirked. "You’re the only one whose number got drawn twice."

Kiba twitched. "This New Year, I’m finding the biggest shrine in the country and praying until I pass out."

"Will the two students with number one please come forward," Iruka called, flipping open the roster at last.

Yakumo and Kiba stepped into the arena, forming the confrontation seal together.

"Yakumo, go easy on me," Kiba said quickly. He’d seen her fight Neji before—one painting, no hand seals, and the battle was over. Terrifying.

"Don’t be nervous." Yakumo’s gentle smile was like a warm spring breeze. "We’re all classmates."

Kiba felt himself relax instantly.

"Is that the Therapeutic Words Technique?" Shizune murmured in surprise.

"Mm." Tsunade’s eyes lit with interest. "Not bad. Using it mid-battle has its advantages."

Kitazawa nodded slightly in agreement.

Down in the arena, Yakumo spoke again, her tone light. "It’s just a monthly exam—no need to go all out."

She unrolled a scroll. In Kiba’s eyes, a table laden with delicious food appeared.

"Please," Yakumo said, taking a seat at the feast.

"Thanks, Yakumo. You’re a good person," Kiba said warmly, lowering his guard completely.

But to the spectators, it looked entirely different—neither combatant had moved an inch since stepping onto the field.

"What’s going on?" Naruto blurted. "Why haven’t they moved?"

"Kiba’s under Genjutsu," Sasuke said flatly. "The moment Yakumo spoke, he was caught."

"What?" Ino gaped. "No signs at all?"

"This is the second Genjutsu," Sasuke added, his gaze sharpening.

Shikamaru frowned. "When she raised her hand just now?"

In reality, that "scroll" was a hand seal.

"Exactly," Sasuke confirmed. The more he watched, the more uneasy he felt. ’She’s a Bloodline Genjutsu user like me... but why does it feel like the Sharingan isn’t as strong?’

"Genjutsu really—" Shino began.

"—is terrifying," Naruto cut in with a grimace. He hated Genjutsu. No clashing fists, no sweat, no youth—just getting locked down before you could even blink.

"It’s Mirror Dimension," Tsunade observed with satisfaction. "Deadly effective in battle."

Kitazawa’s thoughts were less cheerful. ’Poor Kiba... seven years old and already facing Mangekyō-level Genjutsu. That’s protagonist-tier bad luck. Sasuke wasn’t supposed to suffer that until next year.’

"I’m not fighting," Kiba said suddenly, raising his hand with a sheepish smile. "Yakumo’s too nice—I’ll forfeit."

"Thank you," Yakumo replied politely.

Reality snapped back into focus for Kiba. The world looked sharper, almost painfully so.

"What just happened?" he muttered, stunned. He remembered eating and drinking with Yakumo... and then conceding.

"I used two Genjutsu," Yakumo said softly.

"..." Kiba was speechless. He hadn’t even felt the trap close. The gap between them wasn’t just wide—it was a different species entirely.

"Yakumo, that was amazing!" Ino exclaimed as they returned.

"Kiba went easy on me," Yakumo said modestly.

"..." Kiba swallowed his protests, face twisted in silent outrage. ’Went easy? I didn’t even land a hit.’

Sasuke suddenly felt less confident about holding first place. Hinata, too, was troubled. Both Sasuke and Yakumo specialized in Genjutsu—and Kitazawa had trained her for months. Losing now would be humiliating.

Naruto, of course, stayed cheerful. Shikamaru had once told him Shadow Clones could counter Genjutsu, so what was there to worry about?

"They’re monsters," Iruka muttered in awe. Yakumo beating Neji was already scary enough—but winning without even fighting? That was on another level. Sometimes, Iruka wondered if Class 1-A was full of Genin and Chūnin in disguise.

"Will the students with number two please come forward," he called, marking down the score.

The following matches felt tame by comparison. Sasuke, Hinata, Naruto, and the others swept their opponents with ease, moving into the second round.

"What do you think, Tsunade-sama?" Kitazawa asked during the break.

"So-so," Tsunade replied casually. "Aside from Yakumo, no one’s shown anything impressive yet."

"Tsunade-sama, they’re first-years," Shizune reminded her. "This level is already incredible."

"True," Tsunade conceded after a pause. Her own class hadn’t been anywhere near this good in their first year. Even the average students here outperformed the norm. Kitazawa’s influence was undeniable.

"You know," she added suddenly, "Hiruzen should just give you the principal’s job."

"Please don’t curse me like that," Kitazawa said quickly. "The principal’s always the Hokage."

"Then how about Hokage?" Tsunade asked, a sly gleam in her eyes.

"No thanks. With you here, it’s obviously your seat."

"I’m not interested," she said flatly. "Anyone else can have it."

Kitazawa wisely said no more.

Shizune, however, sighed quietly. If Tsunade didn’t change her mind, they’d be back to wandering the world before long.

"Break time’s over—second round begins!"

Iruka’s voice rang across the arena.

The crowd of students had thinned dramatically; less than half remained. The eighty-point cutoff had been ruthless, and only the top of the class had survived it.

"It’s my turn!"

Before Iruka could even call a name, Naruto burst onto the field like a shot from a kunai launcher.

"Why does it have to be Naruto?"

Sakura sighed, her shoulders slumping.

"Sakura, just do your best," Ino offered, though her tone was more obligatory than encouraging.

Sakura stepped onto the field—only to be knocked out in under thirty seconds.

This Naruto was nothing like the one who used to fawn over her. On the field, everyone was an enemy.

"Rude little brat," Tsunade chuckled from the stands.

Naruto had held back—just a little—but still floored Sakura with a quick Leaf Whirlwind and a flurry of blows.

Tsunade found it hard to reconcile this whirlwind of energy with the calm, refined Minato Namikaze.

"Sasuke-kun, you have to beat Naruto for me!" Sakura huffed, nursing her pride—and the sting from being the first to need healing.

"Sorry, Sakura," Naruto said, walking past her.

"If you get hurt later and don’t beg me properly, I won’t heal you!" She shot back, hands on hips.

"I... I’ll just find Kitazawa-sensei," Naruto replied with a sheepish grin.

"...!"

Sakura was left speechless.

Ino, meanwhile, was laughing so hard she was practically doubling over—until she saw her next opponent.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura gasped, suddenly energized. "Don’t go easy on her!"

"I concede," Ino said instantly, then flashed Sakura a smug little grin as if she’d just won.

Sakura clutched her chest like it physically hurt.

Sasuke took one step forward, then stopped. "Am I... part of this conversation?"

"Will the two students from number seven step forward!" Iruka’s voice cut through, all business.

Yakumo and Choji took the stage.

"This is bad—Choji and I both got beat by a Genjutsu," Kiba muttered.

"Not much you can do against hers," Shikamaru shrugged. He’d already figured out that, barring Sasuke and Naruto, no one had much hope against Yakumo.

Choji, however, didn’t look downcast.

"Yakumo-san, that food in your Genjutsu was delicious!" he said, wiping drool from his mouth. "Just... not filling enough."

Yakumo froze, stunned. ’This is what a real foodie looks like? He doesn’t even care he was trapped in Genjutsu...’

"Number eight?" Shikamaru asked, holding up his token.

"That would be me," Shino said, pushing up his glasses.

"Figures. My luck’s terrible," Shikamaru sighed, already resigned.

When the match began, Shino unleashed a cloud of Kikaichū, chasing Shikamaru all over the arena. Any thought of a drawn-out tactical fight vanished.

Eventually, Shikamaru managed to catch Shino with his Shadow Imitation Technique—but it was useless. Shino might be stuck, but the bugs weren’t.

Outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and nearly out of chakra, Shikamaru surrendered.

"The Aburame clan never disappoints," Shizune remarked.

"Tch. Shikamaru actually did very well," Tsunade admitted. "His timing was spot on. Even a Chunin would’ve struggled in that situation."

Kitazawa nodded. "He’s talented—smart too. Just... lazy."

Time slipped by, and the second round drew to a close.

"The students advancing to the third round are..." Iruka announced, "Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Shino Aburame, Yakumo Kurama, Hyuga Hinata, and Nara Shikamaru."

Kitazawa noted that the lineup was nearly identical to the last final exam—only Ino had been replaced by Yakumo.

"It’s going to be an interesting third round," Tsunade commented. Each of the six bore a surname respected across the village.

"Kitazawa, your class is overflowing with talent," Shizune said.

"This just means Konoha’s in good shape," Kitazawa replied with a grin.

The lot-drawing began.

"I’ll go first!" Naruto said, bounding forward. "I hope I get Sasuke!"

He pulled his slip. "Number two!"

"Number one," Sasuke said, glancing at his. "Not you."

Naruto’s face fell.

"I... I’m number one," Hinata said softly, glancing down at her slip, heart thudding.

Ino and Shino exchanged glances. Poor Hinata—Sasuke had beaten Neji before, and while Hinata had as well, the comparison didn’t favor her.

"Hinata, huh?" Sasuke thought. ’Same as Neji, just less trouble.’

Naruto’s opponent turned out to be Yakumo. "Even if you’re strong, I’m still gonna win!" he declared.

Shino, meanwhile, learned he was paired with Shikamaru again.

"You don’t need to fight. I surrender," Shikamaru said without hesitation.

When Iruka called for the number ones, Sasuke and Hinata stepped forward—calm confidence on his face, nervous determination on hers.

Kitazawa’s eyes sharpened. Whether his goal succeeded hinged on Hinata’s win.

"You can just surrender," Sasuke offered, conserving chakra for later rounds.

"No," Hinata replied, glancing briefly at Kitazawa. "I have my own reason to win."

"Funny. So do I," Sasuke said, Sharingan spinning to life. "Begin."

He formed seals in a blur—

Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!

The air warped from the heat as a massive fireball roared toward Hinata.

She’d been ready, darting to the side and circling fast.

"Speed’s about the same as Neji’s," Sasuke noted, tossing twin handfuls of shuriken.

Hinata’s Byakugan scanned them—no traps—and her Gentle Fist knocked them away.

Perfect. The shuriken slowed her just enough for Sasuke to weave his next seals.

Genjutsu: Bubble!

But Hinata’s head stayed low—eyes avoiding his. Kitazawa’s training worked. She’d tracked the shuriken by sound alone.

"Tch. Annoying." Sasuke switched tactics.

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!

Small fireballs scattered toward her. Hinata didn’t yet use her trump card—the Leaf-Style Body Flicker Technique—just dodged, waiting for the perfect moment.

For now, the two circled, each hunting for an opening.

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